Myanmar Forum 2016

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute partnered with the University of Michigan’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies for the Myanmar Forum which was held on Friday, 20 May 2016.

Friday, 20 May 2016 – ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, partnering with the University of Michigan’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, organised the Myanmar Forum 2016 in Singapore on 20 May 2016. The Forum’s five panel sessions covered Myanmar’s history, culture, political evolution, economic and social development, and the contours of its business landscape. Panellists spoke candidly on various aspects of Myanmar’s transition. The Summary Report of the Forum discussions is available at this link.

The Forum was jointly opened by Mr Tan Chin Tiong, Director of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and Professor Linda Lim, Professor of Strategy at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business and former Director of the University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies. This one-day Forum brought together Myanmar country specialists, business and government practitioners with an international audience of public and private sector actors who are interested in the developments in Myanmar, especially after the National League for Democracy assumed responsibilities of government on 1 April 2016, to identify existing and emerging challenges that the new government would face, as well as discuss options and opportunities to address these challenges.

Opening address delivered by Mr Tan Chin Tiong, ISEAS Director, which was followed by Professor Linda Lim’s address. Seated with them are Dr Hui Yew-Foong, ISEAS Senior Fellow, and Ms Moe Thuzar, ISEAS Fellow – both Co-Coordinators of the Myanmar Forum 2016. Click here to view the opening address by Mr Tan. (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)

The highlight of the Forum was a dialogue session with U Ko Ko Gyi, General Secretary of the 88 Generation (Peace and Open Society) which is a highly respected political organization born out of the student-led democracy protests of 1988. U Ko Ko Gyi is a leading Burmese politician, democracy activist and former prisoner of conscience.

In Conversation with U Ko Ko Gyi. (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)

Following the Myanmar Forum, Ko Ko Gyi also shared his Forum experience in an interview with the Kyemon, a Burmese-language daily newspaper. The interview, which was carried in the 27 May 2016 edition of Kyemon, is available at this link. The Burmese text is accompanied by an unofficial English translation.

The 5 panels and the dialogue session in action. (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)